By Hopkin Reporter
On Thursday August 3rd 2023, The County Government of Kitui in Collaboration with the USAID Advancing Nutrition has today launched the Kitui county Agri- Nutrition Implementation Strategy ( CANIS 2023- 2027) at the Kitui Agricultural Training Centre ( ATC).
The strategy’s main aim is to reduce malnutrition through implementation of efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Agri- Nutrition systems in the county.
The launch which was part of a close- out and learning dissemination meeting brought together different partners among them the Catholic Medical Mission Board( CMMB), Anglican Development services Eastern ( ADSE) The Catholic Diocese of Kitui( Caritas and Health Department ) and The South Eastern Kenya University.
The project whose implementation started in September 2020 aimed at strengthening National and County level government capacity to plan, finance, manage and implement Multi- Sectoral Nutrition ( MSN) interventions to improve the health of populations at risk of nutritional deficiencies in Kitui ,Kisumu Kakamega and National level.
USAID’s deputy Global Director for Advancing Nutrition Mike Foley commented Kitui’s Multi- sectoral Nutrition saying the progress was really impressive ” Five years ago, the implementation of Multi- Sectoral Nutrition was not something that was mostly done” he said.
The chief of Party for USAID’s Advancing Nutrition Program Peter Milo acknowledged the success of the program saying it was a result of good coordination and collaboration within and across the various county MSN Ministries .
“I want to thank the leadership of the various ministries that have made this program a success in Kitui” he said.On his part,the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Water and Irrigation Stephen Mbaya Kimwele reiterated the County Governments commitment in supporting Agri- Nutrition saying the county had already allocated funds for Agri – Nutrition in the financial year 2023- 2024.
“I made sure funds to support implementation of Agri- Nutrition interventions were set aside in this current budget ” he said.
The County Executive Committee Member for Culture, Gender,Youth and ICT Phoebe Ndunyu Mutemi and her counterpart for Education, Training and Skills Development Joyce Titus acknowledged the role of their respective Ministries in improving Nutrition outcomes in the county.
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